Friday, March 07, 2008

Public defender asks for tutor for Memorial Middle School shooter

Public defender James Egan filed a motion today in Jasper County Circuit Court asking the court to allow Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White, 15, to be tutored while he awaits trial.

White has been in jail since October 2006 after he took an assault rifle to Memorial Middle School, fired a shot into the ceiling and allegedly tried to shoot Principal Steve Gilbreath multiple times but failed when the gun jammed.
White was 13 and a seventh grader at Memorial at the time of the shooting. He is charged with two counts of assault and single counts of unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, and attempted escape.

White's trial is on hold while the Missouri Supreme Court decides whether it should remain in adult court or be remanded to the juvenile system.

5 comments:

Aimee said...

I'll admit that I was caught up in the "should he be tried as an adult or not" debate that I forgot to think about the overall educational well-being of the gun bearing student. I'm guessing the same goes for everyone else?

Betty B. said...

So thirteen year old adults are apparently assumed not to need any further education as they await their day of judgment. What ever happened to the right to a speedy trial?

Most everyone who goes to jail, emerges to take their place in society, sooner or later. This seems like an opportune time for the wheels of justice to intervene in the life of this young man, and not just grind him into a totally useless human being.

Anonymous said...

He screwed up big time but he is still just a child.

Anonymous said...

It would have been a speedy trial had his lawyers not filed motions all over the state, and federal courts. They are the ones keeping this thing going. He is certainly around better role models with the staff at the juvenile facility than he ever was with his parents.

Anonymous said...

This child made a serious mistake with serious consequences---I certainly would not have wanted the court system to parent me or my kids at the age of 13. If the school system was not meeting his needs when he lived in his family the law would support the case for quality education. Two points--13 is NOT an adult and innocent until proven guilty. How will they find a jury of his peers--maybe during summer vacation!!!